In short
- The Royal Queensland Show (the Ekka) runs from 7 to 15 August 2027 at the Brisbane Showgrounds in Bowen Hills, and Brisbane's show public holiday is Wednesday 11 August 2027.[1][5][6]
- The RNA doesn't point visitors to parking inside the Showgrounds: it lists nearby car parks within walking distance and warns spaces are limited, especially on weekends and the public holiday.[2][3]
- For the 2026 show, Brisbane City Council closed parts of Gregory Terrace, King Street and Alexandria Street for about three weeks and changed parking on the surrounding streets.[5]
- The RNA recommends public transport: trains stop at Exhibition station inside the grounds, and Translink fares are a flat 50 cents (Airtrain excepted).[3][8]
When is the Ekka in 2027, and when is the show holiday?
The RNA, which runs the show, publishes the dates years ahead. The Ekka is held at the Brisbane Showgrounds in Bowen Hills.[2][5]
| Year | Show dates (August) | Brisbane public holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 2027[1] | Saturday 7 to Sunday 15 | Wednesday 11 August |
| 2028[1] | Saturday 12 to Sunday 20 | Wednesday 16 August |
The Queensland Government's public holiday list confirms Wednesday 11 August 2027 as the Royal Queensland Show holiday, for the Brisbane area only.[6] Its rule: the holiday is the Wednesday of the show, and the show starts on the first Friday in August, or the second Friday if the first falls before 5 August.[6] Other council areas take their own show holidays on other dates; in 2026 several regions marked the Royal Queensland Show on 10 August while the City of Brisbane's was 12 August, and the show holidays page lists every district.[7]
For the 2026 show, the RNA's gates opened 9am to 9pm, with pavilions and attractions on their own hours.[4] The 2027 times will be on the same page closer to the show.
Where do you park for the Ekka?
The RNA's visitor pages don't point you to parking inside the Showgrounds. For the 2026 show they listed these car parks within walking distance:[2][3]
- King Street Car Park[2]
- Wilson Parking, Herston Medical Precinct Car Park (RBWH), and Wilson Parking, Royal Brisbane Women's Hospital (P2)[2]
- First Parking, Valley Metro Car Park[2]
- Secure Parking, McWhirters Car Park[2]
- Victoria Park, also named in the RNA's FAQ[3]
The FAQ warns that spaces are limited and may be fully booked, especially on weekends and the public holiday, and encourages public transport where you can.[3] Prices are set by each operator and change, so check and pre-book with the car park itself.
Street parking nearby is heavily restricted during the show (next section). A parking fine on a hire car is your responsibility; fuel, parking and fines explains what happens when one arrives.
Which roads close around the Showgrounds?
Brisbane City Council publishes the traffic changes each year. For 2026, its notice of 24 July set changes from 7am Monday 27 July to 6 in the evening on Thursday 20 August.[5] The core of it, from 1am Wednesday 29 July to 10pm Thursday 20 August 2026:[5]
- Fully closed: Gregory Terrace between Costin Street and Exhibition Street; King Street between Gregory Terrace and Machinery Street; Alexandria Street between Gregory Terrace and St Pauls Terrace.[5]
- Reduced: a westbound half-road closure on Gregory Terrace from Costin Street to Anderson Street, and Exhibition Street one-way southbound between Gregory Terrace and St Pauls Terrace.[5]
- O'Connell Terrace: single westbound lane closures and hold-and-release on Sneyd, Lanham, Tufton and Brookes Streets, from 1 to 3 August and again from 8 to 16 August.[5]
- Parking: temporary No Standing Tow Away, Authorised Vehicles Only, disabled-only and loading zones on streets around the gates, including parts of Gregory Terrace, King Street, Machinery Street, O'Connell Terrace and Costin Street.[5]
Detours were signed on the day, and the Council pointed drivers to QLDTraffic (13 19 40) for traffic and Translink (13 12 30) for public transport.[5] The 2027 notice hadn't been published at the time of writing; look for it on the Council's website before the show, and read it before relying on any street near Gregory Terrace or O'Connell Terrace.
Is the train easier than driving to the Ekka?
The RNA thinks so. For 2026 it said trains arrive and depart at Exhibition station inside the show, and called public transport the most cost-effective way to get there.[3][2] Translink's fares are a flat 50 cents across all zones and modes in South East Queensland, including Queensland Rail City Train services but not the Airtrain.[8]
If you're dropping people off instead, the RNA set a dedicated taxi or rideshare zone outside Gate 1, at the corner of Gregory Terrace and Costin Street.[2] Bikes can't be ridden inside the grounds, but there are secure racks on Carriage Street.[2]
A sensible split for a family with a rental car: drive to a station with parking away from Bowen Hills, and take the train the last part. That avoids the closures and the hunt for a space.
If you do drive all the way, aim to be parked before the gates open (9am at the 2026 show) on a weekday rather than arriving mid-morning on a Saturday, and pre-book a space where the car park allows it.[4][3]
Renting a car from Hendra for Ekka week
Our yard in Hendra is close to Bowen Hills, so the Showgrounds are a short drive from where you collect the car. That also means our side of the city is near the closures, so allow extra time on show days.
Visiting from out of town? Our new to Brisbane guide covers the first weeks with a car, and parking in Fortitude Valley helps if you're staying on the Valley side of the Showgrounds.
Sources
- Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland (RNA): Ekka Dates & Public Holiday (read 23 October 2026)
- Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland (RNA): Getting to Ekka (read 23 October 2026)
- Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland (RNA): FAQ (read 23 October 2026)
- Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland (RNA): Ekka 2026 Opening Hours & Gate Times (read 23 October 2026)
- Brisbane City Council: Changed traffic and parking conditions in Bowen Hills for Ekka (read 23 October 2026)
- Queensland Government (qld.gov.au): Public holidays (read 23 October 2026)
- Queensland Government (qld.gov.au): Show holiday dates (read 23 October 2026)
- Translink (Queensland Government): 50 cent fares (read 23 October 2026)
Written by the Rentzy team at Rentzy Car Rentals. Rentzy prices, fees and rules in this guide come from our published terms and update with them; rules set by others (roads, tolls, licences, transport) are from the official pages above, as read on the dates shown. Something out of date? Tell us.
